BOCA DE ORO LITERARY ARTS & CULTURE FESTIVAL RETURNS TO DOWNTOWN SANTA ANA Spirit of Transformation and Nine Greek Muses inspire community literary festival that grows each year
Santa Ana, California -- Boca de Oro (Mouth of Gold) Festival of Literary Arts & Culture returns for its fourth year with free writing and arts and crafts workshops, panel discussions, author talks and performances on Saturday, March 7, 2020 from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. throughout Downtown Santa Ana. This year’s theme, “The Spirit of Transformation” with the nine Greek muses was illustrated in a stunning poster by Santa Ana Illustrator and Artist Barbie Godoy.
“What sets Boca de Oro apart from other book festivals is that it is organized by the community for the community, celebrating our local authors, poets, artists and students whose creativity breathes life into our city,” said Madeleine Spencer, literary festival coordinator, and co-founder. Marcus Omari who has been a key organizer, mentor, and educator for the student Literary Festival that acts as a pipeline into Boca de Oro Festival, described Lit Con 2020 as "an absolute success". He continued: "I am very thankful to have had the opportunity to share my expertise and engage with future readers, writers, and leaders of America." "As I plotted to help students reach their potential, I grew exponentially as well." “We are deeply grateful for the businesses, galleries, restaurants and creative spaces that have opened their doors to us. Each year, I am so moved by the generosity and enthusiasm everyone feels for this event said festival co-founder Robyn MacNair Visual who is the Performing Arts Coordinator for the Santa Ana Unified School District’s 60 schools.”
With an expected attendance of 7,000 people – many of whom are families with young children - Boca de Oro has expanded its programming with a K-5 Arts Festival put on by Oasis Center International and a Scholastic Book Fair at Birch Park. Santa Ana College through the direction of the New Dean Dr. Kellori Dower has a wonderful set of events this year including, Big Band Performances, Children’s Theater, Poetry Readings, as well as Theater and Media Arts performances. Visitors to the festival will be able to ride a complimentary trolley to visit the various locations hosting performances across all creative disciplines in literature, dance, theatre, speech, and music.
A Boca de Oro app is will be released on iTunes and GooglePlay so everyone can discover, plan and track events in real-time such as workshops, readings, Lit Con & Poetry Out Loud sponsored by Arts OC at the Wayward Theater, and a Festival of Films at Frida Cinema. The finale of Boca de Oro is a showcase by the by Breath of Fire Latina Theater Ensemble.
SABC and SAUSD are also grateful to Community Engagement for their generous contributions to the festival for the past two years. The Santa Ana Elks Lodge that has gifted the event with a sponsorship, will do a reading in the festival and will give out 150 free books to children. Organizers are also thankful for the Newport Friends of the Library’s generous donation of books that will be given away for a dollar a bag at the West End Book Fair.
In total, the Boca de Oro brings 100 authors and poets and 3,000 visual and performing artists to Downtown Santa Ana. “Authors, poets and artists will turn Downtown into a vibrant hub of creativity,” Spencer said. “We see so many attendees who are first-time visitors to our community because of Boca de Oro and once they see the beauty of this place they wonder why they hadn’t discovered the gem of Downtown Santa Ana sooner.”
Among the many authors on hand is Keynote Speaker Zara Raheem, author of The Marriage Clock - named a "must-read book of the summer” by Cosmopolitan, POPSUGAR, Bustle and Book Riot. Festival attendees will also have the chance to meet and hear from Cuban Poet Susannah Rodriguez Drissi; Marytza Rubio, founder of the Makara Center for the Arts; and Hugo Award-Winner Foz Meadows along with many other inspiring local, regional and visiting authors.
For more information please visit: www.BocadeOro.org; Facebook at www.facebook.com/bocadeorofest or Instagram @BocadeOro
ABOUT BOCA DE ORO FESTIVAL OF LITERARY ARTS & CULTURE
Boca De Oro Festival of Literary Arts & Culture, “mouth of gold” curates diverse and evocative writers, poets, storytellers and artists who present their work through literary readings, workshops, panel discussions, poetry slams, spoken word styles, and visual art experiences. A fringe of the First Saturday Art Walk lead by Downtown Inc., Boca de Oro is a gift from Community Engagement with Santa Ana’s small businesses through the Santa Ana Business Council in partnership with Santa Ana Unified School District, Santa Ana College and the City of Santa Ana.
“What sets Boca de Oro apart from other book festivals is that it is organized by the community for the community, celebrating our local authors, poets, artists and students whose creativity breathes life into our city,” said Madeleine Spencer, literary festival coordinator, and co-founder. Marcus Omari who has been a key organizer, mentor, and educator for the student Literary Festival that acts as a pipeline into Boca de Oro Festival, described Lit Con 2020 as "an absolute success". He continued: "I am very thankful to have had the opportunity to share my expertise and engage with future readers, writers, and leaders of America." "As I plotted to help students reach their potential, I grew exponentially as well." “We are deeply grateful for the businesses, galleries, restaurants and creative spaces that have opened their doors to us. Each year, I am so moved by the generosity and enthusiasm everyone feels for this event said festival co-founder Robyn MacNair Visual who is the Performing Arts Coordinator for the Santa Ana Unified School District’s 60 schools.”
With an expected attendance of 7,000 people – many of whom are families with young children - Boca de Oro has expanded its programming with a K-5 Arts Festival put on by Oasis Center International and a Scholastic Book Fair at Birch Park. Santa Ana College through the direction of the New Dean Dr. Kellori Dower has a wonderful set of events this year including, Big Band Performances, Children’s Theater, Poetry Readings, as well as Theater and Media Arts performances. Visitors to the festival will be able to ride a complimentary trolley to visit the various locations hosting performances across all creative disciplines in literature, dance, theatre, speech, and music.
A Boca de Oro app is will be released on iTunes and GooglePlay so everyone can discover, plan and track events in real-time such as workshops, readings, Lit Con & Poetry Out Loud sponsored by Arts OC at the Wayward Theater, and a Festival of Films at Frida Cinema. The finale of Boca de Oro is a showcase by the by Breath of Fire Latina Theater Ensemble.
SABC and SAUSD are also grateful to Community Engagement for their generous contributions to the festival for the past two years. The Santa Ana Elks Lodge that has gifted the event with a sponsorship, will do a reading in the festival and will give out 150 free books to children. Organizers are also thankful for the Newport Friends of the Library’s generous donation of books that will be given away for a dollar a bag at the West End Book Fair.
In total, the Boca de Oro brings 100 authors and poets and 3,000 visual and performing artists to Downtown Santa Ana. “Authors, poets and artists will turn Downtown into a vibrant hub of creativity,” Spencer said. “We see so many attendees who are first-time visitors to our community because of Boca de Oro and once they see the beauty of this place they wonder why they hadn’t discovered the gem of Downtown Santa Ana sooner.”
Among the many authors on hand is Keynote Speaker Zara Raheem, author of The Marriage Clock - named a "must-read book of the summer” by Cosmopolitan, POPSUGAR, Bustle and Book Riot. Festival attendees will also have the chance to meet and hear from Cuban Poet Susannah Rodriguez Drissi; Marytza Rubio, founder of the Makara Center for the Arts; and Hugo Award-Winner Foz Meadows along with many other inspiring local, regional and visiting authors.
For more information please visit: www.BocadeOro.org; Facebook at www.facebook.com/bocadeorofest or Instagram @BocadeOro
ABOUT BOCA DE ORO FESTIVAL OF LITERARY ARTS & CULTURE
Boca De Oro Festival of Literary Arts & Culture, “mouth of gold” curates diverse and evocative writers, poets, storytellers and artists who present their work through literary readings, workshops, panel discussions, poetry slams, spoken word styles, and visual art experiences. A fringe of the First Saturday Art Walk lead by Downtown Inc., Boca de Oro is a gift from Community Engagement with Santa Ana’s small businesses through the Santa Ana Business Council in partnership with Santa Ana Unified School District, Santa Ana College and the City of Santa Ana.
BOCA DE ORO HISTORY
Boca de Oro Festival Posters 2017 by Panamanian Artists Agata Surma and Hector Guillen
Boca de Oro Posters 2019 by Oaxacan Artist Irving Herrera
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Boca de Oro Festival 2018 Posters by Local Artist Michael Zibrowski
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